Support theWhite Helmets

To the UN Security Council:

"Barrel bombs - sometimes filled with chlorine - are the biggest killer of civilians in Syria today. Our unarmed and neutral rescue workers have saved more than 73,530 people from the attacks in Syria, but there are many we cannot reach. There are children trapped in rubble we cannot hear. For them, the UN Security Council must follow through on its demand to stop the barrel bombs, by introducing a 'no-fly zone' if necessary." - Raed Saleh, head of the White Helmets, the Syrian Civil Defence.

Spread the word

Please recruit your friends and family to join the heroes of the White Helmets in their call to stop the bombs

The most dangerous place in the world

When the bombs rain down, the Syrian Civil Defence rushes in. In a place where public services no longer function these unarmed volunteers risk their lives to help anyone in need - regardless of their religion or politics. Known as the White Helmets these volunteer rescue workers operate in the most dangerous place on earth.

As the conflict in Syria worsens, ordinary people are paying the highest price. More than 50 bombs and mortars a day land on some neighbourhoods in Syria. Many are rusty barrels filled with nails and explosives, rolled out the back of government helicopters -- bakeries and markets are the most commonly hit targets. When this happens the White Helmets rush in to search for life in the rubble - fully aware that more bombs may fall on the same site. These volunteers have saved 73,530 lives - and this number is growing daily.

"Syrians are killed everyday with various kinds of weapons, but the deadliest ones are the barrel bombs because of their indiscriminate nature."

- Raed Al Saleh, head of the White Helmets

The White Helmets Movie

For five years the headlines on Syria have been dominated by extremists and dictators, but now the spotlight is finally in its rightful place - on the incredible heroes of Syria. A new Netflix documentary, ‘The White Helmets’, from the Oscar-nominated team behind Virunga, is available for streaming on Netflix. In living rooms across the world millions of people can now walk the bombed out streets of Aleppo with these inspiring rescue workers.

We don’t always know what will make history. This could be the thing that multiplies the movement of support for the White Helmets and forces world leaders to act to stop the bombs raining down on Syrian families.

141 White Helmets have been killed saving lives. For them and for every Syrian civilian, let’s watch this film, share it with our friends, and demand support for the White Helmets and their message of peace.

Miracle Baby

Broken promises

The UN Security Council passed Resolution 2139 in 2014 which banned barrel bombs and other indiscriminate weapons. They promised to take further steps if their resolution was violated. More than two years later, thousands more barrel bombs have been dropped, killing thousands more children. The Council didn’t act.

In 2015, they passed another resolution banning the use of chlorine as a chemical weapon. They said if chemical attacks continue, they would take action under the “Chapter VII” of the UN charter - which would allow them to use force to protect civilians.

The have been dozens of chemical attacks since the Security Council spoke. By failing to act, Security Council members are emboldening the killers. Now the White Helmets are calling on them to follow through on their demands and stop the chlorine and stop the bombs.

"When I want to save someone’s life I don’t care if he’s an enemy or a friend. What concerns me is the soul that might die"

- Abed, The White Helmets

Unarmed and neutral

The volunteers save people on all sides of the conflict - pledging commitment to the principles of “Humanity, Solidarity, Impartiality” as outlined by the International Civil Defence Organisation. This pledge guides every response, every action, every life saved - so that in a time of destruction, all Syrians have the hope of a lifeline.

The White Helmets mostly deal with the aftermath of government air attacks. Yet they have risked sniper fire to rescue bodies of government soldiers to give them a proper burial.

Bakers, tailors, engineers, pharmacists, painters, carpenters, students and many more, the White Helmets are volunteers from all walks of life. Many have paid the ultimate price for their compassion - 141 have been killed while saving others.
As well as saving lives the White Helmets deliver public services to nearly 7 million people, including reconnecting electrical cables, providing safety information to children and securing buildings. They are the largest civil society organisation operating in areas outside of government control, and their actions provide hope for millions.

Who are the White Helmets?

Get wounded White Helmets back on their feet

Bakers, tailors, engineers, pharmacists, students and many more, the White Helmets come from all walks of life. The 2,900 volunteers are united by their motto that ‘to save one life, is to save all of humanity'. Donate and show them that humanity is united behind them.

The women saving Syria from the bombs

Almost all official members of the White Helmets were men until two women’s teams were formed in October 2014. These 78 heroic women are trained in medical care and light search and rescue work. They respond to barrel bomb and missile strikes and dig for survivors using tools and their bare hands.

In some cases, they are the only hope for other women or girls who are trapped under rubble. In Syria’s most conservative communities, people have refused to let male volunteers rescue women and girls – but the women have intervened to help those who wouldn’t have been helped otherwise. Now they’ve inspired hundreds of people across the world, from Peru to Pakistan, to donate over $100,000 to buy them the six ambulances they need for their rescue missions.

What is The Syria Campaign?

Four years after the peaceful uprising in Syria, politicians and the media have largely forgotten what the UN calls “the greatest humanitarian tragedy of our time”. But we haven't. That’s why we started The Syria Campaign, to build a global movement of solidarity and action working toward a peaceful and dignified future for all Syrians. We aren’t the Syrian Civil Defence, but we think that what they do is amazing and should be supported by people around the world.